“Wine has been with civilized man from the beginning.” So says Robert Mondavi, founder of the Robert Mondavi winery in California, a winery that boasts over 45 wines of different varietals. Indeed, archeologists have found instruments for wine making as early as 6000 BC. It’s featured in all aspects of ancient and modern culture from art to religion. And though the process for making it hasn’t changed much over the thousands of years it has been produced, the scope and variety of it has, making it one of most rapidly growing industries. Wine can now be shipped, purchased in grocery stores and bulk stores alike, as well as in large scale wine and spirit stores such as the liquor shop in Braselton, Georgia and those in other states.
The Wonder of Wine
Wine is one of the most natural beverages to produce. The word itself stems from the root word for vines, where the fruit—the grape—is harvested. Grapes are grown on almost every continent and country in the world, whether the climate is warm or cool. And as such, there are many types of grapes out there. Some of the most popular are the chardonnay, merlot and cabernet varieties, but others such as riesling, viognier and muscadelle are increasingly popular. While some grapes are exclusively white and some are exclusively red, the rich red color of wine often comes from including the skins in the wine making process along with the color of additional fruit or flavor infusions. Many places like the liquor shop in Braselton offer hundreds of these with different flavors and from different regions of the world for customers to choose from.
The process of making wine is fairly simple: In order to turn grape juice into wine, it goes through a process called fermentation. Fermentation is a process of adding a controlled yeast to the juice from grapes and storing it for a select amount of time and temperature. Unlike most other beverages that undergo fermentation, no added sugar is needed for grapes being turned to wine—the sweetness of the grape will often indicate how sweet the wine will be. As mentioned earlier, wines are often infused with other flavors, including spices, fruits and chocolate. There are even some wines flavored with animal essences!
The Perspective of Pairing
Wines are as individual and unique as the people who drink them. Traditionally, wines are recommended according to what food best accompanies them. These recommendations are generally referred to as pairing. For instance, many experts recommend that sweeter wines be paired with desserts while drier wines should accompany savory dishes. To further break down pairings, light citrus wines to go with fish while heavier reds are recommended with red and game meats. Yet these standards are becoming looser as people pair whatever wines they prefer with their choice of food.
The best way to find the wine you like is to sample several. Tastings are often offered in the liquor shop in Braselton, those in other areas and in wineries